Flexible skirting system for surface effect machines



J. H. BERTIN FLEXIBLE SEIRTING SYSTEM Foa SURFACE EFFECT MACHINES 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1965 Ihvenzlor Igan HW l Heffi gpr'neysJ. H. BERTIN Dec. 3, 196s FLEXIBLE SKIRTING SYSTEM FOR SURFACE EFFECTMACHINES Filed April 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Hl J. H. BERTIN3,414,075

FLEXIBLE SKIRTING SYSTEM FOR SURFACE EFFECT MACHINES Dec. 3, 1968 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 19, 1965 rllll.

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J. H. BERTIN Dec. 3, 1968 FLEXIBLE SKIRTING SYSTEM FOR SURFACE EFFECTMACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed April 19, 1965 H/ JM United States Patent O 3,414,075 FLEXIBLESKIRTING SYSTEM FOR SURFACE EFFECT MACHINES Jean Henri Bertin,Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, assignor to Bertin & Cie, Paris, Seine,France, a company of France Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.165,634, Jan. 11, 1962. This application Apr. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 449,009Claims priority, application France, June 30, 1961, 866,604, add.application 80,047; Apr. 20, 1964, 971,607, Patent 1,421,301

8 Claims. (Cl. 180-121) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A surface effectmachine of the multi-cushion kind operable with distinct pressure fluidcushions positioned next to each other and surrounded by a yieldableskirting system which comprises a peripheral wall lobated in plan andformed by a succession of outwardly-convex arcuate flexible skirtportions connected to form said wall at cuspidal edges thereof, andinner lobe separating means formed by one or more substantially planarflexible partitions extending substantially rectilinearly from saidcuspidal edges inwardly of said peripheral wall and forming therewithjunctions which are generally Y-shaped in plan with each partition beingthe leg of the Y.

This is a continuation-in-part of my application, Ser. No. 165,634 led Jan. 11, 1962, now Patent No. 3,263,764 granted Aug. 2, 1966.

FIGURES and 10A in the above-mentioned application relate to a surfaceeffect machine of the multi-cushion type with distinct pressure fluidcushions positioned next to each other and surrounded by a skirtingsystem made of flexible material adapted to yield when engaged by an-obstacle or the crest of a wave.

Said figures in the parent application show such a machine with askirtin-g system designed and arranged to have a succession of twooutwardly-convex arcuate flexible skirt portions connected to each otherthrough cuspidal edges, whereby said skirting system is lobated inplanform.

An object of the invention as disclosed in said figures of the parentapplication is to design and arrange said skirt portions to be partfrustoconical and taper toward a free edge which extends along acircular arc.

An object of the present application invention is to provide animprovement over the parent application wherein said vlobated skirtingsystem is formed with lobe separating means extending rectilinearlybetween the cuspidal edges thereof and forms therewith a Y-shapedjunction in planform with said lobe separating means being the leg ofthe Y.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in thefollowing description given with reference to the accompanying drawingin which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view along line I-I of FIGURE 2 of aground effect machine embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a corresponding sectional elevation along line II-II ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3 to 6 show on a larger scale details of the junctions of twocontiguous flexible skirts, these figures corresponding to respectivereference numerals III to VI of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 7 and 8 correspond to FIGURES l and 2 respectively but show analternative embodiment of a ground effect machine;

FIGURES 9 to 11 are views on a larger scale corresponding to detailswhich bear the respective reference numerals IX to XI of FIGURE 7;

FIGURES 12 and 13 show details which correspond to respective referencenumerals XII and XIII of FIG- URE 8; and,

FIGURES 14 and 15 are respectively a partial perpendicular elevation anda view from below, on a smaller scale, of a further embodiment of aground effect machine similar in certain respects to that of FIGURES 7to 13.

Reference is here made to said copending application for a completedescription of aforesaid FIGURES 10 and 10A and the advantages ascribedthereto which, by said reference thereto, is incorporated herein as partof the instant disclosure.

Referring to FIGURES l to 6, 1 designates a platform which during itsoperation is supported by several fluid cushions 2 each of which isbounded laterally by a flexible skirt 3 and is supplied, preferablyindependently of the other c-ushions, with fluids under pressure.

In order to best utilize the whole of the lower surface of the platform1 for lift, the fluid cushions 2 are juxtaposed 4so as to form a compactgroup and the flexible skirts 3 which bound them laterally and includeon the one hand substantially planar partition portions 3a sepa-l ratingtwo contiguous cushions without substantial pressure difference and onthe other hand peripheral portions 3b forming the outer boundary of thegroup of cushions, to which the excess pressure of said cushions overthat of the ambient medium imparts a planform at least approximatelycircular. These peripheral portions 3b are situated near the edges ofthe platform 1.

In fact, the skirt configuration is such that the arcuate, peripheralportions 3b are outwardly-convex and together form a peripheral wallwhich is lobated in plan, being connected to form said wall at generallycuspidal edges thereof. Moreover, the planar portions 3a extendsubstantially rectilinearly from such cuspidal edges inwardly of theperipheral wall to define and separate the cushion lobes and form withsuch wall junctions which are generally Y-shaped in plan with theportions 3a being the leg of such Y.

The plan configuration of the lower edges of the skirts depends solelyupon the excess pressure in the cushions and the internal tensilestresses to which the skirts are subjected. The skirts are made of anyflexible and, if desired, tension-resistant material, especially asynthetic fabric made fluid-tight by means of a rubber coating.

The plan configuration of the upper edge 5 of each skirt 3 is determinedby the means for securing the skirts to the underside of the frame l.Such securing is, for example, obtained by means of angle sectionmembers 6, one flange of which is made fast with the platform 1 by anyconventional securing means, for instance screws 8, and the otherperpendicular flange 7 of which is made fast with the upper edge 5 of askirt 3. This edge is for instance clamped between the flange 7 and ametal band 9 by means of bolts 10.

All the members just mentioned may be seen in FIG- URES 3 to 6. Thejunction of at least two peripheral skirt portions 3b and an inner skirtportion 3a is performed by any conventional assembling means, especiallyby stitching or gluing, the substantially vertical edge 11 of at leastone of said portions being preferably doubled up and a butt-strap 12being -added if desired. It is also possible to carve strips out of theedge of a skirt portion and to rivet these strips as shown in FIGURE 2.

The description of this first embodiment of the invention shows that thesubstantially rectilinear portions 3a of the skirts form walls common totwo contiguous skirts and are supported by one angle-bar only, relatingto one or the other of said skirts. Moreover, the skirt portions 3a 3form a crossed network inside the Alobated peripheral wall.

FIGURES 7 to 13 show a modification according to which the portions 3bof the skirts are still supported by angle-bars 6, their clampin-gagainst the flange 7 of said angle-bars being performed however, bymeans of tightening bands 13 in the state of tension. Moreover thecommon rectilinear portions 3a which separate two contiguous fluidcushions in fact consist of the juxtaposition of two sheets 14respectively belonging to the skirts which surround said cushions andare therefore distinct.

It is apparent, especially on FIGURES 9 and 13, that two sheets 14 whichconstitute a common rectilinear partition portion 3a are supported bythe two flanges 15 of a channel bar the web of which is secured to theplatform 1 of the ground effect machine. The upper edges 5 of the sheets14 are clamped by bolts or in any equivalent manner, between one of saidflanges 15 and a metal band 6. The internal pressure of the contiguousfluid cushions 2 maintains the sheets 14 in contact with each otherapart from a region thereof adjacent the platform 1 which is somewhatgreater than the height of the flanges 15. This arrangement renderseasier the deflection of the portions of common partitions portions 3awhen the platform passes above an obstacle and reduces the loss ofcushion fluid. Each skirt is deformed independently of the others, andtherefore also the sheets 14 which constitute a portion 3a are deformedindependently.

FIGURES 10 to 13 show how the upper edge 5 of the peripheral,curvilinear skirt portions 3b which bound the group of cushions issecured to the angle-bars 6 by means of the tightening bands 13. Theflanges 7 of the angle-bars 6 are preferably provided with grooves 17which cooperate With said tightening bands in order to deform the edgeof said skirt portion 3b, which is conveniently doubled up (FIGURE 12).The end of the tightening bands 13, which is provided with a shoulder18, is secured to a channel piece by a stop 19 bolted on to the flanges15 of this member and having suitable slots 20 (FIGURES and 13).Screw-stretchers 14' connect two portions 13a, 13b of the sametightening band and enable the overall length of said band to beadjusted (FIGURE 11).

FIGURES 14 and 15 show a limit case of the second modification in whichthe skirts 3, which are independent but form a compact group under theinfluence of the pressure forces, are only two in number and further thepartition 3a which separates the two fluid cushions 2 has a Widthred-uced practically to nothing at the lower edge 4 4 of the skirts. Theedge 11a of this partition 3a has .in elevation a hyperbolic form(FIGURE 14).

What is claimed is:

1. A surface effect machine of the multi-cushion kind operable withdistinct pressure fluid cushions positioned next to each other,comprising a`yieldable skirting system which surrounds said cushions andwhichincludes a peripheral wall lobated in plan and formed by asuccession of at least two outwardly-convex arcuate llexible skirtportions connected to form said wall at generally cuspidal edgesthereof.

2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said flexible skirtportions ends 4with a substantially part circular free edge.

3. Machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said flexible skirtportions is substantially part frustoconical and tapers toward said freeedge thereof.

4. Machine as claimed in claim 1, including a cuspidal edgeinterconnecting means comprising a plurality of substantially planarflexible partitions extending in either one of two substantiallyorthogonal directions and forming a crossed network inside saidperipheral wall.

5. Machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a cuspidal edgeinterconnecting means including two flexible sheets respectively exposedto the pressure fluid of adjacent cushions and in mutual overlappingrelation, `whereby said sheets are urged against each other by thepressure of said respective cushions.

6. Machine as claimed in claim 5, -wherein said sheets are substantiallycoextensive and parallel with each other.

7. Machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sheets are positivelyapplied by said cushion pressure against each other in mutualenga-gement.

8. Machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sheets are spaced fromeach other along an edge thereof remote from the surface over which saidmachine is operable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,169,241 1/1916 Conklin 248--1011,362,517 12/1920 Stuart et al. v

3,174,573 3/1965 Chaplin.

3,237,708 3/1966 Strasser et al.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

